Michael J Fox to make TV comeback in first role after devastating health battle
Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox is gearing up to be part of the cast of a TV show for the first time since 2020, after his health condition deteriorated
Michael J. Fox has announced his exciting return to television as he prepares for a guest role in the popular Apple+ comedy show Shrinking. The series revolves around the lives of three psychiatrists, played by Harrison Ford, Jason Segel, and Jessica Williams.
The main characters, Dr Paul, Jimmy, and Gaby, all support each other through their own personal struggles as they work to help their patients in sometimes unconventional ways. Fox's role in the third season of the series has not been revealed yet, but there is a possibility that it will be linked to Dr Paul's ongoing Parkinson's storyline.
Fox himself stepped away from acting as his Parkinson's symptoms worsened in 2020, and he started to experience issues with his speech. He was diagnosed with the neurological disease three decades ago, and fans have theorised that his character will address what it is like to live with Parkinson's on-screen, given Dr Paul's season two character arc focused on his health struggles and fears that he would have to walk away from psychiatry.
This stint on Shrinking will also mean the Hollywood A-lister gets to collaborate with the show's co-creator Bill Lawrence again, after they previously both worked on Spin City.
Lawrence previously admitted that Fox influenced his portrayal of Dr Paul's battle with Parkinson's on Shrinking, saying: "It's cool to get to write about things you care about now. And Michael J Fox is my first mentor. So we wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way.
"I found the first mentor in my life and career, Michael J Fox, to be so inspiring. The way he took it in stride and continues to work harder than anybody I know. And we want to kind of carry that spirit if we can into the show."
The last TV show Fox starred in was American legal drama The Good Fight, which is about a lawyer who loses her life savings after being scammed and is forced to start again.
His last big film role was in the 2019 sci-fi blockbuster See You Yesterday as Mr Lockhart, the science teacher of the two teen leads who attempt to crack time travel.
The Back to the Future star has reportedly been managing his Parkinson's symptoms with the drug carbidopa/levodopa, and he is also said to have had a thalamotomy in 1998.
He previously spoke about how "tough" it is to live with the disease, telling The Guardian: "It didn't defeat me. I wish it was a heroic thing. I'm not saying: 'Yeah! Bring it, bring it!'
"I hate it. It sucks. It's a piece of s**t. It's tough to get up in the morning and keep going. But I have a beautiful family and this office with trophies."
He also shared that being unable to act was "a struggle", adding: "It's very difficult. I get sick of talking about me. I know me too well."
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